John,

Two years ago, beginning on March 20, 2020 the Trump administration used the beginning of the pandemic as rationale to block and expel thousands of refugees seeking asylum at our southern border. They used a little-known policy, Title 42, to block and deport immigrants coming to the United States from countries where Covid-19 was present.

More than 1 year into the Biden administration, this policy continues, with more than 90,000 expulsions of refugees during this time, without the right to due process.

Senior scientists at the Centers for Disease Control objected to the Title 42 order when it was implemented by the Trump administration and leading epidemiologists and medical experts continue to object to its use today.

Sign the petition to President Biden to immediately end the use of Title 42 to expel immigrants and asylum seekers at our southern border.

Not only has the Biden administration continued this unjust, inhumane policy, it has defended its use in court and expanded it with illegal expulsions of refugees to Brazil, Columbia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras and Mexico. At least 20,000 Haitian families and individuals, including asylum seekers, have been expelled or deported.

There have been at least 8,705 reports of kidnapping, rape, trafficking, torture and other attacks on people blocked in or expelled to Mexico, including LGBTQ, Black and Indigenous asylum seekers.

This policy has never been about public health. It’s a cruel practice that violates domestic law and international treaty obligations.

While it is an important step that the Biden administration will stop using Title 42 to deny entrance to unaccompanied minor children, these expulsions must end for everyone.

Sign the petition today to President Biden to immediately end the use of Title 42 to expel immigrants and asylum seekers at our southern border without due process.

If we expect other countries to uphold refugee law and welcome people fleeing across borders in search of protection, including those now forced to flee Ukraine, we must lead by example and uphold refugee laws at our own borders.

Thank you for fighting for the rights and humane treatment of all people seeking peace and safety at our borders and throughout the world.

Deborah Weinstein
Executive Director, Coalition on Human Needs